Chapter 66

Chapter 66

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Chapter 66: A Girl of Feeling Dies of Shame in the World of Shades / A Scornful Youth Retires Coldly to a Monastery

The text resumes:

When Bao Er's wife had given him a slap, she laughed. "There was some truth in what you said before, but you mixed it with so much nonsense that there's no telling what's real and what isn't. You don't sound at all like one of Second Master's boys — that kind of talk sounds more like something from Baoyu's side of the house."

You Erjie was about to ask more, when Sanjie smiled and cut in, "Tell me, that Baoyu of yours — what does he do besides going to school?"

Xing'er laughed. "Don't ask me about him, ma'am. You probably wouldn't believe me anyway. He's grown up now, but he's never been to a proper school. From our family ancestor down to Second Master, who hasn't studied hard for ten years by the cold window? But he's the only one who doesn't like books. He's the Old Lady's darling. At first the Old Master tried to discipline him, but now he doesn't dare either. All day long he acts crazy. People don't understand what he says or what he does. Outwardly everyone thinks he looks handsome and that he must be clever inside, but actually he's clear outside and muddled within. When he meets people, he doesn't say a word. The good thing is that, though he's never been to school, he's managed to learn a few characters. Every day he neither studies literature nor practices martial arts. He's afraid of meeting people, and only likes playing around with the maids. He has no sense of propriety either. Sometimes when he sees us, if he's in a good mood he'll join in all the fun without any distinction of rank; if he's not in a good mood he'll walk off without a word to anyone. Whether we're sitting or lying about, if he sees us he ignores us, and we don't get blamed either. So nobody's afraid of him, and everyone does as they please — and it all passes off well enough."

Sanjie smiled. "If the master is too lenient, you behave like this; if he's too strict, you complain. He must be hard to deal with."

"You Erjie said, "We thought he was quite nice, but it turns out to be like this. What a pity, such a fine background."

Sanjie said, "Sister, don't believe his nonsense. We've met him more than once or two. In his conduct, conversation, eating and drinking, there's something of a woman about him — that's because he's been spoiled among girls since childhood. If you say he's muddled, in what way is he muddled? Sister, do you remember when we were in mourning together? That day when the monks came in to circle the coffin, we were all standing there. He stood at the front blocking the way. People said he didn't know propriety and had no sense of what was fitting. But afterwards he quietly told us, 'Sister, you don't know — it wasn't that I had no sense of what was fitting. I was thinking the monks were dirty and was afraid the smell might offend you ladies.' Then when he was drinking tea, and you asked for tea too, that old woman poured from his cup. He quickly said, 'I've drunk from that one — let me wash it and pour you a fresh one.' From these two incidents, I could see clearly that among girls he gets along fine no way how he behaves, but he just doesn't fit in with outsiders — so they don't understand him."

When You Erjie heard this, she laughed. "According to you, you two are already perfectly matched. Why not betroth you to him? Wouldn't that be nice?"

Sanjie, finding Xing'er there, didn't like to speak and only lowered her head to crack melon seeds.

Xing'er laughed. "In looks, conduct and character, they'd make a fine match. But he's already got someone — it just hasn't been made public yet. In the end it's Miss Lin who's destined for him. Because Miss Lin is often ill, and besides they're both still young, so nothing has been settled yet. In another two or three years, once the Old Lady gives the word, there'll be no question about it."

Just then they saw Long'er come again. "The Old Master has something to do — a confidential mission. He's sending Second Master to Ping'an Prefecture. He'll leave in three or five days, and the whole trip there and back will take half a month. He can't come today. He asks the old lady and Second Aunt to settle the matter first, so that when he comes tomorrow he can make the final decision."

With that, he took Xing'er away.

Here You Erjie had the door shut early and went to bed, having spent the whole night questioning her sister. It was not until the afternoon of the following day that Jia Lian finally came. You Erjie urged him, saying, "Since you have business to attend to, why rush back in such a hurry? Don't let me interfere with your affairs on any account." Jia Lian replied, "There's nothing urgent, but they've just assigned me a distant mission. I set off at the end of the month and will be gone half a month before I return." Erjie said, "In that case, go ahead with a clear conscience. There's nothing here you need worry about. Third Sister is not the sort to change her mind from dawn to dusk. She's said she's changed her mind, and she certainly has. She's already chosen the man—you just need to go along with her." Jia Lian asked who it was. Erjie smiled and said, "He's not here right now. Who knows when he'll show up—it's a testament to her judgment. She herself said that if this man doesn't come in a year, she'll wait a year; if he doesn't come in ten years, she'll wait ten years; and if he's died and will never come, she'll willingly shave her head and become a nun, eating a vegetarian diet and chanting Buddha's name for the rest of her life." Jia Lian asked, "Who on earth is it, to move her so deeply?" Erjie smiled and said, "It's a long story. Five years ago, on Mother's birthday, Mother and we girls went to her house to congratulate her. They had hired a troupe of actors for the occasion, and among them was a young male lead named Liu Xianglian. She took a fancy to him, and she's determined to marry only him. Last year we heard that Liu Xianglian got into some trouble and fled—we don't know whether he's come back or not." Jia Lian said, "No wonder! I was wondering what kind of man it could be—so it's him! She certainly has good eyes. You don't know this Second Master Liu—as handsome as he can be, he's the coldest and most aloof person alive; he's heartless and faithless toward almost everyone. The only one he really gets along with is Baoyu. Last year, after he beat up that fool Xue, he was too embarrassed to show his face among us, and no one knew where he'd gone for a while. Later I heard someone say he'd returned, but I couldn't tell if it was true or not. If you ask Baoyu's pages, they'll know. But if he doesn't come—he drifts about like duckweed on the waves, and who knows how many years it'll be before he turns up? Won't that be a waste of time?" You Erjie said, "Our Third Girl is as good as her word—she means what she says and does what she says."

As the two of them were talking, in walked You Sanjie. "Brother-in-law," she said, "you needn't worry. We're not the kind of people whose hearts and mouths don't match—we mean what we say and say what we mean. If the man surnamed Liu comes, I'll marry him. From this day forward, I'll eat a vegetarian diet and chant Buddha's name, serving only Mother. When he comes, I'll marry him and go. If he doesn't come for a hundred years, I'll cultivate myself and become a nun." As she spoke, she took a jade hairpin and snapped it in two. "If a single word of this isn't true, may I end up like this hairpin!" With that, she returned to her room and from then on truly conducted herself with such propriety that she neither moved nor spoke beyond what was proper.

Jia Lian, having no alternative, discussed household matters with Erjie and then went home to talk with Xifeng about his departure. He sent someone to ask Mingyan, who said, "I really don't know. He probably hasn't come yet—if he had, I'd certainly know." He also asked the neighbors, who said he hadn't come either. Jia Lian had to report this to Erjie. When the day of departure was drawing near, two days beforehand he announced he was leaving, but first came to spend two nights at Erjie's place, setting out on his long journey from there in secret. He saw that his young sister-in-law had indeed become a different person, and that Erjie managed the household diligently and carefully, so he had no need to worry.

That morning he left the city at first light, taking the highway to Ping'anzhou. He traveled by day and rested at night, drinking when thirsty and eating when hungry. After three days on the road, as he was pressing forward, he encountered ahead a train of pack animals. Among them was a party of some ten or so horsemen, masters and servants together. As they drew nearer, Jia Lian recognized them—none other than Xue Pan and Liu Xianglian. Jia Lian was greatly surprised. He urged his horse forward to greet them, and when they had all met and exchanged news of what had happened since they last parted, they went into an inn to rest and talk.

Jia Lian said with a smile, "After all that trouble, we were anxious to get you two reconciled, but we couldn't find any trace of Brother Liu. How is it that you two are traveling together today?"

Xue Pan laughed. "The world is full of strange things. I went with my business partners to trade goods, and we set out in the spring, making our way back home. All went well. But the other day, when we reached the border of Ping'anzhou, we ran into a band of robbers who made off with all our goods. Who should appear but Second Brother Liu! He drove off the bandits, recovered our merchandise, and saved our lives into the bargain. I tried to thank him, but he wouldn't accept anything, so we became sworn brothers for life. Now we're traveling together to the capital. From now on, we'll be like real brothers. When we reach the fork ahead, he'll turn off—some two hundred li to the south, he has an aunt he wants to visit. I'll go into the capital first to settle my affairs, then find him a house and a good match, so we can all live together."

Jia Lian said, "So that's how it is! You had us worried for days." Hearing that Xianglian was looking for a match, he added at once, "I happen to have an excellent marriage in mind for Second Brother." He then told him about his own marriage to the Second Sister and his plan to arrange a match for her younger sister, though he made no mention of the Third Sister's having chosen her own husband. He also cautioned Xue Pan not to tell the family yet—when a son was born, they would naturally find out.

Xue Pan was overjoyed. "It should have been arranged long ago. It's all my cousin's fault."

Xianglian smiled. "You're forgetting yourself again. Do stop."

Xue Pan fell silent at once. "In that case, this marriage must certainly be arranged."

Xianglian said, "I have always vowed to marry only an uncommonly beautiful woman. But since you and your brother are so determined, I'll set aside my scruples. Arrange it however you wish—I'll do whatever you say."

Jia Lian laughed. "Words alone won't do. The moment Brother Liu sees her, he'll know that my sister-in-law's beauty has no equal in this age or any other."

Xianglian was delighted. "If that's so, let me visit my aunt first. I'll be in the capital by the middle of the month. We can settle it then."

Jia Lian smiled. "Let's make a firm promise. But I don't quite trust you, Brother Liu. You're a wanderer—if you get delayed and don't come back, you'll ruin the girl's prospects. You'll have to leave a pledge."

Xianglian said, "A man of honor would never break his word. But I'm poor, and I'm away from home—what pledge could I possibly give?"

Xue Pan said, "I have everything ready right here. Let me prepare a betrothal gift for you to take to Brother Lian."

Jia Lian laughed. "No need for gold or silk. It must be something that belongs to Brother Liu personally—something of his own, no matter how humble, just so I have something to show as proof."

Xianglian said, "In that case, I have nothing else. This sword I carry for self-defense—I can't part with it. But I have in my bag a pair of Mandarin Duck swords, a family heirloom passed down through generations. I dare not use it myself—I only keep it with me. Jia Lian, please take it as the pledge. Though I may be a man as rootless as the drifting current or a fallen blossom, I will never abandon this sword."

With that, he opened his bag, drew out the sword, and presented it to Jia Lian with both hands. Jia Lian ordered a servant to take charge of it. They drank a few more cups, then mounted their horses and parted, each going his own way. As the saying goes: The general dismounts for no man—each rides off to his own destiny.

Jia Lian reached Ping'anzhou a day later, called on the military governor, and finished his business. He was asked to return sometime around the tenth month, and Jia Lian promised he would. The next day he hastened back, going first to call on the Second Sister. He had not expected that in his absence she had managed the household with the utmost propriety, keeping the gates shut and hearing nothing of the outside world. Her younger sister was indeed a woman of iron resolve. After waiting on her mother and elder sister each day, she lived quietly and kept to herself. Though at night, alone in her bed, she found the loneliness hard to bear, she put all thought of others aside and thought only of Liu Xianglian's early return, so that her lifelong happiness might be settled.

When Jia Lian arrived and saw how things stood, he was overjoyed and deeply grateful for the Second Sister's virtue. After they had exchanged greetings, he told her about meeting Xianglian on the road and produced the Mandarin Duck sword, which he handed to the Third Sister. She examined it—the hilt was worked with dragons and mythical beasts, the jewels glittering. When she drew the blade from the scabbard, she found it was actually two swords joined together. One was engraved with the character "Yuan" and the other with "Yang." Cold and gleaming, bright and sharp, they were like two traces of autumn water. The Third Sister was beside herself with joy. She put the sword away at once and hung it on the wall of her embroidered chamber. Every day she gazed at the sword and smiled to herself, knowing her future was secure.

Jia Lian stayed two days, then went back to report to his father and returned to the household. By then Xifeng had largely recovered and was up and about, managing affairs again. Jia Lian also told Jia Zhen about the matter. But Jia Zhen had recently made new friends and had put the whole thing out of his mind. He left it entirely to Jia Lian to arrange, only fearing that Jia Lian might not manage alone, so he gave him an additional thirty taels of silver. Jia Lian brought the money to the Second Sister to prepare her trousseau.

Before August was out, Xianglian arrived in the capital. He first paid his respects to Aunt Xue and then ran into Xue Ke, from whom he learned that Xue Pan, unaccustomed to wind and weather and unable to tolerate the change of climate, had fallen ill the moment he entered the capital and was being treated by a doctor. When Xianglian was told, he was invited into the bedchamber to see him. Aunt Xue harbored no grudge over past events and felt only gratitude for his recent kindness; she and her son thanked him profusely. They then spoke of the marriage, and everything needed for it was already in order—they only awaited a favorable day. Liu Xianglian was deeply grateful as well.

The next day he came to see Baoyu. When the two met, they were like fish in water. Xianglian asked about Jia Lian's secret taking of a second wife. Baoyu laughed, "I heard Mingyan and the others mention it, but I haven't seen anything myself, and I wouldn't dare meddle. I also heard Mingyan say that Second Brother Lian has been asking after you—I wonder what he wants to say?" Xianglian then told Baoyu everything that had happened on his journey. Baoyu said with a laugh, "Great news, great news! It's rare to find such a beautiful woman—truly a peerless beauty of all time, well matched to your character." Xianglian replied, "If that's the case, they're hardly short of people there. Why would they think of me? Besides, I've never been particularly close to him on ordinary days—it doesn't make sense for him to show such concern. He was in such a hurry on the journey that he pressed three times for a betrothal. Does the woman's side chase after the man's? I began to doubt myself and regretted leaving that sword as a betrothal gift. That's why I thought of you afterward—I could come and get the full story." Baoyu said, "You've always always been a careful man. How could you accept a betrothal gift and then start doubting? You said all along you wanted only a peerless beauty—now that you've found one, let it be. Why doubt further?" Xianglian asked, "Since you didn't know he had taken a second wife, how do you know she's a peerless beauty?" Baoyu replied, "She's one of the two younger sisters-in-law brought along by the second wife of Elder Sister-in-law Zhen. I spent a whole month with them there—how could I not know? Truly a pair of exquisite creatures, and their surname is You." When Xianglian heard this, he stamped his foot and said, "This won't do—absolutely won't do. In your East Mansion, aside from those two stone lions, I doubt even the cats and dogs are clean. I won't be the cuckold that's left behind." When Baoyu heard this, his face flushed. Xianglian, regretting his careless words, quickly bowed and said, "I deserve death for talking nonsense. But do tell me—how is her character?" Baoyu laughed, "If you already know so well, why ask me? Even I may not be entirely clean." Xianglian said with a laugh, "I spoke without thinking for a moment—please don't take it to heart." Baoyu replied, "No need to mention it again. That would mean you do care." Xianglian bowed and took his leave. He had intended to look for Xue Pan, but since Xue Pan was ill in bed and also prone to impatience, he decided instead to seek the return of the betrothal gift. Having made up his mind, he went straight to find Jia Lian.

Jia Lian was in his new quarters when he heard Xianglian had arrived. Overjoyed, he hurried out to welcome him and led him inside to meet Old Mother You. Xianglian merely bowed and addressed her as "respected mother," calling himself "your junior." Jia Lian was surprised at this. Over tea, Xianglian said, "While I was traveling, pressed by unexpected circumstances, I learned that my aunt had betrothed me to a wife in April. I had nothing to say in reply. If I complied with you and went against my aunt, that would seem unreasonable. Had the betrothal gift been gold or silk, I would not presume to ask for its return. But this sword is an inheritance from my grandfather. I must ask you to return it to me." Jia Lian, somewhat discomfited, replied, "A betrothal is a betrothal precisely because it prevents second thoughts. How can a marriage be entered or abandoned on a whim? This needs further consideration." Xianglian said with a smile, "Though you put it that way, I'm willing to accept blame or punishment, but I absolutely cannot comply." Jia Lian was still trying to argue when Xianglian rose and said, "Brother, let us talk outside—this is not a suitable place." Third Sister You had been listening clearly from inside. She had waited so eagerly for his arrival, and now, seeing him suddenly go back on his word, she realized he must have learned something in the Jia household—naturally he looked down on her as a woman of loose virtue who had thrown herself at a man and deemed her unworthy to be his wife. If she allowed him to go out and settle the broken betrothal with Jia Lian, she reckoned Jia Lian would have no way out of it, and she herself would only look foolish. Hearing Jia Lian suggest they go out together, she quickly drew the sword, concealing the female blade against her elbow, and came out saying, "There's no need to go out and discuss this further—here is your betrothol gift." Tears streamed down her face. With her left hand she handed the sword and its sheath to Xianglian, and with her right she drew the blade across her throat. Alas—"Peach blossoms crushed, red strewn across the ground; the jade mountain toppled, never to be raised again." Her fragrant soul, her noble spirit, drifted away, faint and far, to no one knew where. The people present were thrown into a panic, trying frantically to save her. Old Mother You wailed and cursed Xianglian at the same time. Jia Lian seized Xianglian and ordered him bound and taken before the magistrate. Second Sister You quickly dried her tears and instead urged Jia Lian, "You're making too much of this. No one forced her to take her own life—she chose to end it herself. Even if you hand her death over to the authorities, what good would it do? It would only stir up trouble and bring shame. You might as well let him go—wouldn't that be simpler?" Jia Lian, at a loss for what to do, released his grip and told Xianglian to be off at once. But Xianglian did not move. Weeping, he said, "I had no idea she was such a woman of fierce virtue and honor—how admirable, how admirable!" He supported the body and wept bitterly. After a coffin had been purchased, he watched her encoffining and wept over the coffin once more. Only then did he take his leave.

Outside, he had nowhere to go. In a daze, he reflected on what had just happened. So Third Sister You was not only so beautiful but also so fiercely unyielding—he deeply regretted his own failure. As he walked, he saw Xue Pan's page searching for him to return home, but Lian remained lost in thought. The page led him to the bridal chamber, which was arranged with perfect elegance. Suddenly the tinkling of jade rings and pendants was heard, and Third Sister You entered from outside, holding the mandarin-duck sword in one hand and a volume in the other. She said to Liu Xianglian through tears, "I have waited for you with devoted passion for five years. I never expected you to be so cold at heart and in manner. I shall repay this devotion with my death. I am now commanded by Jinghuan to proceed to the Great Void Fairyland to inscribe in the records all the love-spirits under my charge. I could not bear to part without a farewell, so I have come to meet you once more. From this moment, we shall never meet again." With that she turned to leave. Xianglian, unwilling to let her go, rushed forward to seize her and question her, but Third Sister You said, "I came from the Heaven of Passion; I shall depart to the Land of Passion. In a past life I was led astray by passion; now that I feel shame and awaken from it, you and I have no further connection." With these words, a fragrant breeze arose, and she vanished without a trace. Xianglian started awake, unsure if it had been a dream or not. He opened his eyes and saw—there was no Xue family boy, no bridal chamber. He was in a ruined temple, where a lame-legged Daoist sat catching lice. Xianglian rose and bowed respectfully. "What place is this? What is your honorific title and dharma name?" The Daoist laughed. "Even I do not know what place this is or who I am. I have merely stopped here to rest for a moment." Upon hearing these words, Xianglian felt a sudden chill, as if ice had pierced his bones. He drew the male sword, swept it once through his hair, severing the ten thousand threads of worldly trouble, and followed the Daoist—no one knows where he went. He will be seen again in a later chapter.

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